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Christopher Alexander, who fired a gun at a Fairview Mall security officer in 2010, calls the judge a biased devil during his sentencing.

Christopher Alexander was originally charged with attempted murder after he shot at a mall security guard, but was convicted of lesser charges and sentenced to nine years. (Toronto Police)

By Peter SmallCourts Bureau

Wed., Jan. 9, 2013

A Toronto shoplifter erupted in an angry tirade and swore at a judge as she sentenced him to nine years for shooting at a store detective at the Fairview Mall.

“I don’t want to hear what you have to say,” Christopher Alexander said Wednesday. “You are biased.”

He ranted for over a minute, swearing at Justice Julie Thorburn, calling her a devil despite the fact she had acquitted him of attempted murder in October, while convicting him of lesser weapons and breach charges.

“You are giving me nine years? People get eight years for manslaughter,” he said.

Thorburn called a recess. When Alexander returned, the Ontario Superior Court judge shortened the reading of her reasons but provided lawyers with a written copy.

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“I realize that you are not happy and I do hope at some time you read the reasons for sentence. It’s important that you understand …” she said.

She noted that the 29-year-old repeat offender is a young man who still has time to rehabilitate himself.

Thorburn credited him just over two years for pre-trial custody, including enhanced credit for tough conditions at the Toronto (Don) Jail, where he got only 20 daily minutes of yard time five times a month.

“I am troubled by the fact that the Toronto Jail does not keep a record of lockdowns,” she said. “I have therefore assumed that they occur with some degree of frequency.”

Alexander was spotted shoplifting a bottle of cologne by two loss-prevention officers on the night of Sept. 13, 2010, at The Bay in the Fairview Mall, on Sheppard Ave. E. near and Don Mills Rd..

Alexander initially did not resist arrest, but when the word “handcuffs” was mentioned, he fled. Loss-prevention officer Owen Baker gave chase through the lower level of the mall. Alexander turned around in the food court and fired a shot at Baker from a 9mm Glock pistol, missing him, then dropped the weapon before fleeing.

Baker suffered emotionally as a result of the incident and received counselling from his employer, the judge said.

Alexander escaped to Alberta after the shooting. Four months later, police apprehended him in Calgary.

As two Toronto police detectives escorted him back by plane, he spat on one officer and head-butted the other.

Alexander was convicted of assault in that incident on Sept. 5. But Justice Gary Trotter, who sentenced him to three months, also found police used excessive force when they tied Alexander up “like a horse.”

In Wednesday’s sentencing, Thorburn gave Alexander seven years for discharging the firearm, adding six months for possessing an overcapacity magazine without a licence and 1 ½ years for breaching court orders.

He has 18 previous convictions, including three for robbery and four for assault causing bodily harm.

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